Observations from Iraq, Iran, Israel, the Arab world and beyond

IRAQ: Journalists won't have to sign Code of Conduct

January 11, 2009 | 8:39
am

The head of Iraq's election commission said Sunday that Western and Iraqi journalists seeking accreditation to cover the country's Jan. 31 provincial elections would not be required to sign a controversial Code of Conduct.

The 14-page document outlines rules that include a two-day "media silence period" before election day. It also requires media to give equal time to candidates, a restriction that would prove difficult for many local television stations funded by political parties.

"These are not our regulations," said Judge Qasim Hasan Abodi, head of the commission. "All we ask is that the media be neutral, transparent and objective. This is the only thing."

He said journalists do not need to sign this Code of Conduct and it
will be removed from the commission's website to clear up the confusion.

Since the code began being circulated a few days ago, Abodi and
other non-governmental organizations assisting with the election said
they had been flooded with complaints from media outlets and
organizations. The Iraqi Journalists Syndicate told Reuters they they
rejected "this interference."

Under the Code of Conduct, journalists could have faced penalties
including issuing a public apology, fines, suspended licenses or
seizure of equipment. The code was drafted by Iraq's Communications and
Media Commission, which Abodi said operates separately from the
election commission.